The aftermath of Jeju Air Flight 2216, which tragically crashed at Muan International Airport, South Korea, on December 29, has unveiled critical communications between the flight’s pilots and air traffic controllers, offering potential insights into the disaster that resulted in the loss of 179 lives.
According to the partial transcript obtained by the media, the pilots made a mayday call reporting a bird strike shortly before their plane crash-landed. In the moments leading up to the disaster, they proposed several landing approaches, initially turning to the left before requesting a right turn to approach the airport’s single runway. After these attempts failed, controllers suggested an alternative landing direction, which was accepted by the pilots.
The Boeing 737-800 ultimately landed on its belly, overran the runway, and collided with a concrete structure housing navigation instruments, leading to an intense fireball. Remarkably, only two people survived — the flight attendants located towards the rear of the aircraft.
Investigators maintain an intense focus on the condition of the plane's two engines and electrical supply, as the cause of the crash remains undetermined. The crucial four-minute window of transcription coincided with a period when both flight recorders, known as black boxes, ceased operations—raising questions about the aircraft's mechanical status and potential pilot errors.
During a recent meeting, the transcript was shared with the victims' families, although it was noted that portions of the conversation were redacted to safeguard participant privacy. Official channels have yet to release the complete transcript, and there has been no immediate commentary from the investigative board involved in the inquiry into this tragic event.
